PART 9Licence modification procedure

Transitional and savings provision for the Gas Act 1986 in relation to modification of licence conditions, references to the Competition Commission and Competition Commission membership42

1

The following provisions apply notwithstanding any amendment or repeal of any enactment made by this Part of these Regulations.

2

Paragraphs (3) to (5) apply where—

a

the Authority has made a reference under section 24 of the 1986 Act before the operative date, but

b

the Commission has not made a report on that reference before that date.

3

Sections 24 to 25 of the 1986 Act are to continue in force on and after the operative date in relation to the reference until—

a

the Commission has made a report on that reference; and

b

any actions required or permitted under those sections in connection with the reference have been taken.

4

Any persons who are, immediately before the operative date, members of the Commission by virtue of section 104(1)(a) of the 2000 Act M1 are to continue as members of the Commission on and after the operative date for the purpose of performing functions of the Commission—

a

in relation to that section as amended by this Part of these Regulations; and

b

in relation to the reference mentioned in paragraph (2).

5

Any persons who are, immediately before the operative date, members of a group selected under section 104(2) of the 2000 Act are to continue as members of the group on and after the operative date for the purpose of performing functions of the Commission in relation to the reference mentioned in paragraph (2).

6

Paragraphs (7) and (8) apply where—

a

the Authority has given notice under section 23(3) of the 1986 Act M2 before the operative date; and

b

the period specified in the notice by virtue of section 23(3)(c) of that Act has not ended before that date.

7

On and after the operative date the notice is to be treated for the purposes of sections 23 to 23G of, and Schedule 4A to, the 1986 Act M3 as if it were a notice given under section 23(2) of that Act.

8

Any representations or objections made in accordance with section 23(3) of the 1986 Act in connection with the notice before the operative date are to be treated on and after the operative date as if they were representations made in accordance with section 23(2)(d) of that Act.

9

The following references to provisions of the 1986 Act are to those provisions as amended or inserted by this Part of these Regulations—

a

the references in paragraph (7);

b

the reference to section 23(2)(d) in paragraph (8).

10

In this regulation—

a

the Authority” means the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority;

b

the Commission” means the Competition Commission;

c

the operative date” means the date on which these Regulations come into force;

d

the 1986 Act” means the Gas Act 1986;

e

the 2000 Act” means the Utilities Act 2000.